Drone

Here are a few things to think about if you’re considering drones for your real estate photography.

Drones have more uses than you realize

Drones — also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — are typically associated with military applications. For real estate agents, however, drone photography can show potential buyers a variety of details, including:

Encompassing aerial views of the entire property and land

What the drive home or the kids’ walk to school looks like

The neighborhood and surrounding area, including the home’s proximity to amenities

Civic developments or local improvement districts (LIDs) that the buyer’s property taxes might contribute to

Property maps and surveys

Drones make elevated imagery affordable

Many real estate agents obtain elevated photography using airplanes and helicopters, which can cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars per flight and limit the number of properties you can afford to shoot. Drones can significantly cut the cost of shooting elevated imagery — viable models start at a few hundred dollars, and camera attachments are similarly moderately priced — and enable you to use their aerial footage on many more listings, regardless of price range.

Depending on your equipment setup, drones can shoot stills, video or both. You can edit and share the video using a number of tools and without extensive experience or expertise. Drone operation mostly requires a steady hand and a cool head — no need to hire a professional pilot. And even if you do choose to outsource your drone photography, it might still be less expensive than hiring an airplane or helicopter.